In a rare, late-night television address from the Kremlin on Saturday, Putin told Russians, “We seek serious talks... to remove the root causes of the conflict and start moving toward a lasting, strong peace,” adding that the talks should ”start without delay, as early as May 15.”

Leaders from four major European countries threatened to ratchet up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin if he does not accept

President Trump made his threat in a post on Truth Social that came after a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN that the call for a 30-day truce between Russia and Ukraine, supported by Donald Trump and endorsed by European leaders on Saturday, needs to be "considered" as it is a "new issue.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that together with the countries forming the "coalition of the willing," he proposed to Russia a demand for a full and unconditional cessation of hostilities starting Monday,